With 46 days until the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships, Liberia has formed a men’s 4×100 relay team. The hope is to be one of the 16 qualified teams present in London from August 4-13, 2017.

There are two ways to qualify for Worlds: (1) Top 8 teams from the 2017 IAAF World Relays and; (2) Top 8 best ranked teams at the end of the qualification period which is July 23, 2017.

The men’s 4×1 Team preparing to take the track. L to R: Matadi, Sirleaf, Selman, and Zaza

On June 17, 2017 in Stockbridge, GA, the newly formed relay team tested their chemistry. Leading was Wellington Zaza who handed the baton off to second leg, Paul Selman. Next up was Akeem Sirleaf who passed it on to the anchor, Olympian, Emmanuel Matadi.

For their first time running together at a trial meet, the four athletes ran the relay in 40.80 seconds. The top 5 spots have been filled since the IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas leaving 11 ranking positions up for grabs. Liberia will need to run under 39 seconds to secure a spot for Worlds. With additional practice meets, they are confident they can reach that mark and represent Liberia in London come August.

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All four athletes take great pride in the opportunity to represent their native land, Liberia. To those aspiring to represent Liberia, the message from Matadi is to, “Trust the process” while Zaza says to, “Stay persistent.”

The team will be running at more trial meets to build upon what they have created. The next meet will be on June 24th, 2017 in Alabama.

Last week, the International Olympic Committee approved the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games’ event program. The approval included 5 new sports and 15 new events, which will increase the number of women participants and fulfill the committee’s gender balance goal. Out of Liberia’s 46 past Olympians, 9 are women. Liberia’s first female Olympian, Grace Ann Dinkins represented the country in 1984. Since then, Liberia has sent at least 1 female athlete to each attended Game. Liberia has done well sending women to represent the country, at the last 3 Olympics, but how does Liberia support female athletes outside of the Olympics? Let’s take a look.

The Olympic torch is in Rio and we are hours away from the opening ceremony. Watch the athletes parade into the Olympic Stadium tonight online. Follow @libolympicblog on Twitter for live tweets. Until then, check out our favorite clips of Liberians carrying the flag.